hold my child after she’s born. What if someone took her from me?”
“No one is taking your baby!” Sam growled. Impressive for a lynx.
“But what if someone did?” Tara replied. She looked at Declan, the steel core he knew she possessed evident in her gaze. “I’ll do it.”
Declan took her hand in his. “It’ll be all right.”
“Tara, you can’t!” Sam exclaimed. “You can’t leave us!”
“I’m not leaving,” Tara said. “But Declan is right. I have to at least let them know I’m alive.”
Sam scowled and crossed her arms over her chest. “If they take you away from here, Tara, I’m going to kick your butt.”
Declan bit back a chuckle while Tara sighed. “I’m not going to leave, Sam.”
He knew Sam’s anger was merely a front to hide her fear and worry. The things they’d witnessed together, the things they’d experienced together, had bonded them more as a family than if they were actually blood. “I’ll have Victor reach out to them today.”
“What’s the name of the pack?” Tara asked.
“The Farkas Pack. The alpha is named Andras Veres.” Declan noticed her tense and some of the color in her cheeks leeched as she paled. “Do you know him?”
“Th-That’s my last name,” Tara rasped. “Veres.”
Declan grimaced. If Tara was indeed related to the alpha, it would be difficult to keep her with them. He didn’t remember much about Andras. In fact, he couldn’t even be sure the man had been at the last gathering they’d had. The white wolf he’d run with had definitely been female. Perhaps Andras had a mate and Tara was their daughter? “We’ll find out what we can before worrying,” Declan said. “Okay?”
“I don’t want to go back to them,” Tara said. “I want to stay with you, Sean, Vicky, Tara, and everyone!”
Until he’d known of Tara’s possible relation to the alpha, he’d thought for certain it wouldn’t be an issue for her to remain on streak lands if she wished it. But knowing her blood relatives started with the alpha, if they wanted her back with them, Declan wasn’t sure how he’d stop them from retrieving her. Yet despite Tara’s concerns about being taken away, he knew he couldn’t not inform them now that they knew the truth. He already had enough disgruntled clans on his hands. One of which wanted his head on a pike.
Standing, he walked to her side, placed his hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. “Whatever happens, everything will work out as it’s meant to.”
He went to Victor who still stood near the entrance of the living room and requested he reach out to the Farkas Pack to extend the alpha and his family an invite. Victor gave a silent nod and left while Declan joined Sean and the Biancas. Arthur had moved to sit next to Sean on the couch so Declan chose a nearby chair.
Austin sat up straighter in the chair across from Declan and started scenting the air. He frowned. “What’s that smell?”
“What smell?” Declan asked, sniffing also to see what Austin referred to. He caught Nicole, Arthur, and Sean, but didn’t find anything out of the ordinary.
“It’s like… chocolate with…” He breathed in again, nose higher this time. “Ginger.”
Nicole looked at Austin. “I don’t smell anything, sweetie.”
Austin stood and started wandering through the living room to the front entrance. Declan decided to follow, curious if his current thought was right. “I’ve never scented anything like it,” Austin murmured, moving further toward the dining room.
A light laugh came from the kitchen and Austin turned to follow the sound. He stopped in the doorway of the kitchen and Declan remained just behind him. Tara turned to look their way where she stood arguing with Sam over her sneaking several pieces of whatever she was cutting up. He saw Tara’s eyes widen and she dropped the knife she held. Austin froze, staring at her.
“What’s going on?” Sam asked, frowning.
“I believe young Austin here has found his mate,” Declan replied.
Sam’s mouth dropped open and she glanced between Tara and Austin. Austin moved closer to Tara, only stopping once he stood in front of her. “Hi,” Austin murmured.
Tara flushed and managed a rough, “hi,” in return.
Declan smirked before returning to the living room. No matter what the alpha of the Farkas pack thought, now Tara had ties to the Royal Taiga streak. He sat in the chair he’d left previously. When Nicole asked him about what just happened, he merely replied, “A mate finding a mate.”
The remainder of the evening went